"Dago
Red" airborne at Stead during qualifications
week.
2001
would have proved a very interesting race for the
threepeat National Champion of 98/99/00. The
reports we have indicate the aircraft blew its
racing motor prior to the Reno event, and
attempted to qualify with a stock Merlin in its
place. A problem developed with one of the heads
in the stock Merlin — the result of pilot
Skip Holm trying to give the appearance that Dago
Red still had its racing motor — and had the
events of September 11th not transpired, we might
be looking at a new National Champion in 2001.
Team
Strega likewise reported engine difficulties, and
with Voodoo and Dreadnought out, the race came
down to Precious Metal, Critical Mass, Risky
Business, Czech Mate and Miss America, among
others.
With
one more year to get their engines together, 2002
should prove very interesting to the Unlimited
Field still plagued by mechanical problems
stemming from R2K — "The Year Of The
Bent Wrench." Plus, there is still the
question regarding the return of "Rare
Bear" — 2002 looks like its year.
2002
is shaping up to be Air Racing's fastest year
since its inauguration at Rheims, France, in
August, 1909.
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